Re-Drafting the 2024 NFL Draft
With organized team activities (OTAs) underway and mandatory minicamps rapidly approaching, the NFL offseason is in full swing. For fans, it's a time for optimism, and positive reporting on rookies like Cam Ward, Travis Hunter and Will Campbell can only add to the good vibes.
The hope is that the incoming rookies can help deliver immediate results like Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix did last season.
Of course, the draft is an inexact science, and some incoming prospects don't shine right away—or at all. While the 2024 draft class was impressive overall, it did have a few first-year disappointments.
It's unfair to judge a draft class based on a single season. However, it's fun to look back and wonder how things might have unfolded with more information available.
With that in mind, we took a stab at re-drafting the 2024 NFL draft with the benefit of hindsight. For this exercise, we'll run down the top 32 picks, use the predraft order and base selections on everything that transpired over the last calendar year.
1. Chicago Bears (from CAR): Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
1 of 32
Original Pick: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The Chicago Bears originally used the No. 1 pick on USC quarterback Caleb Williams. While the 2022 Heisman winner had an underwhelming rookie campaign, not much went right for the Bears under former head coach Matt Eberflus.
Chicago, and new head coach Ben Johnson, are still eager to see what Williams can accomplish.
"I think we’re both really looking forward to turning the page on years prior and focusing on the here and now," Johnson said, per The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain and Adam Jahns.
However, given what we've already seen from LSU product Jayden Daniels, it's hard to think that the Bears wouldn't make a change.
Daniels was an easy pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year after posting a 100.1 quarterback rating, making the Pro Bowl and leading a Washington Commanders team that won four games in 2023 to the NFC title game.
In short, Daniels has shown every sign of being a legitimate franchise quarterback with an elite ceiling and a top-15 floor.
2. Washington Commanders: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
2 of 32
Original Pick: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Commanders can't be thrilled about missing out on Jayden Daniels, but they can't be surprised either. The problem is that settling on a replacement quarterback won't be easy.
The Bleacher Report Scouting Department ranked North Carolina's Drake Maye above Williams and Daniels on its final 2024 draft board. But according to ESPN's John Keim, Washington preferred Michigan's J.J. McCarthy over Maye.
With McCarthy missing his entire rookie campaign following knee surgery—and therefore remaining a relative unknown—the Commanders scoop up Williams here.
Yes, Williams disappointed as a rookie, posting an 87.8 passer rating and taking a league-high 68 sacks. However, he was stuck in a bad offensive system with an even worse offensive line.
The Commanders forged a solid supporting cast for Daniels and paired him with a creative offensive play-caller in Kliff Kingsbury. It's not difficult to imagine Williams also having a successful rookie campaign in Daniels' shoes.
Kingsbury was with Williams at USC as an offensive analyst in 2023. In this redraft, the two reunite in Washington.
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
3 of 32
Original Pick: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
With Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams off the board, the New England Patriots have a fairly easy choice at No. 3. They saw enough flashes from Drake Maye to justify taking him again.
The North Carolina product didn't produce gaudy numbers as a rookie, but he showcased elite physical tools and played respectably (88.1 QB rating) given New England's underwhelming supporting cast.
Maye has more upside than quarterbacks like Bo Nix and J.J. McCarthy, and New England has done well to improve his situation this offseason. The team added the likes of Morgan Moses and rookie Will Campbell to improve the offensive line and added a proven head coach in Mike Vrabel, who was drawn to the prospect of working with Maye.
"Excited to build this team around (him) and a large part of the reason why I wanted to be here," Vrabel told Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich (h/t Conor Ryan of Boston.com).
Maye, who was the top-ranked quarterback on the final B/R big board, has given the Patriots no reason to pivot.
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4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
4 of 32
Original Pick: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Entering the 2024 offseason, the Arizona Cardinals again had a healthy Kyler Murray, meaning they weren't in the quarterback market. However, they did need a legitimate No. 1 receiver to pair with Murray, which is why they snapped up Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 4 overall pick.
Unfortunately, Harrison wasn't as prolific as expected during his rookie season. He had solid numbers (885 yards, 8 TDs), but he wasn't an instant sensation. However, it's hard to justify pivoting away from him here.
Yes, receivers like Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Ladd McConkey were more statistically impressive last season. However, Harrison still has the highest ceiling of the group. He was the top-ranked prospect at any position on Bleacher Report's 2024 final big board and is working to be a bigger, stronger pass-catcher this offseason.
"I think I added some muscle to my body a little bit," Harrison said, per ESPN's Josh Weinfuss.
A slight frame (6'3", 209 lbs) was basically Harrison's only question mark entering the draft. If he's indeed a bit bigger and can build a better rapport with Murray, he could have a massive Year 2 jump this season.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
5 of 32
Original Pick: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Notre Dame's Joe Alt was the perfect pick for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024, and he's still the perfect pick for them in our redraft.
The Chargers have their franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert, and they have a head coach who loves a powerful offensive line in Jim Harbaugh. Alt, the top-ranked lineman on the B/R final big board, has all the tools needed to be a franchise centerpiece.
"Overall, Alt is a special prospect due to his size, athletic ability and polish for a player who will be only 21 years old throughout the duration of his rookie season," Brandon Thorn of the B/R Scouting Department wrote.
Alt was as advertised, finishing the 2024 season ranked 19th overall among 140 offensive tackles by Pro Football Focus.
6. New York Giants: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
6 of 32
Original Pick: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The New York Giants face a difficult decision here. Wideout Malik Nabers was fantastic as a rookie, finishing with 1,204 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. New York needs a long-term answer at quarterback, though, and it could snag Bo Nix here.
The Oregon product wasn't overly impressive for the Denver Broncos from a statistical standpoint as a rookie, but he played efficiently (93.3 passer rating) and helped lead them to the postseason. The question for New York is whether poaching Nix can be more valuable than landing Nabers and hoping to draft Jaxson Dart in 2025, which is what actually transpired.
We'll opt for Door No. 1 here for a couple of reasons. For one, the Giants were still hoping to salvage Daniel Jones' career when they passed on a quarterback last offseason. After cutting Jones midway through last season, they now know that's a lost cause.
Secondly, there appears to be a fairly sizable gap between Nix and Dart. Miami's Cam Ward was viewed as a far superior prospect than Dart in 2025, and he likely would have been drafted after Nix if he was in the 2024 class.
"He’s gonna go first overall. And if you put him in last year’s class, he’s sixth or seventh [overall] for me," one AFC assistant coach said of Ward before the draft, per Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.
The Giants take their chances with Nix and hope to find a new No. 1 receiver later.
7. Tennessee Titans: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
7 of 32
Original Pick: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Last April, the Tennessee Titans were still hoping that 2023 second-round pick Will Levis could be their quarterback of the future. They hired an offensive coach in Brian Callahan and used the seventh overall pick on Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham.
Levis actually regressed in his second season, which led to Tennessee using the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft on Cam Ward. Meanwhile, Latham was decidedly average as a rookie. Pro Football Focus ranked him 70th overall among 140 offensive tackles.
With the benefit of hindsight in tow, the Titans instead use this selection on Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Penix spent much of his rookie campaign backing up Kirk Cousins for the Atlanta Falcons. However, he had some impressive moments once he finally got on the field.
Does Ward have a higher ceiling than Penix? Perhaps. But taking the latter would free up the Titans to take an elite prospect like Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter at the top of the 2025 draft.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
8 of 32
Original Pick: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
With Michael Penix Jr. off the board, the Falcons could consider taking Michigan's J.J. McCarthy here. However, they have Kirk Cousins under contract through 2027, and McCarthy missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury.
Yes, Cousins faded down the stretch last season, but he also suffered shoulder and elbow injuries in Week 10, although the Falcons have insisted that they weren't aware of those injuries.
Here, the Falcons decide to stick with Cousins and improve a pass rush that yielded just 31 sacks in 2024. They steal pass-rusher Jared Verse away from the Los Angeles Rams, who originally took him 19th overall.
Verse racked up 4.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 33 quarterback pressures, made the Pro Bowl and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year.
This offseason, Atlanta used first-round picks on pass-rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. after trading a 2026 first-rounder to move back into Round 1 for Pearce. By taking Verse here, the Falcons still need a young quarterback, but they give themselves more flexibility to find one in the 2025 draft.
9. Chicago Bears: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
9 of 32
Original Pick: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Bears made a sound decision to pair Caleb Williams with rookie receiver Rome Odunze last April. While both players struggled in a bad Bears offense, the strategy made a lot of sense.
In 2020, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Tee Higgins, and the two have had a strong rapport ever since.
In our redraft, however, Chicago has swapped out Williams for Jayden Daniels. It'll also take LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. instead of Odunze. That isn't because Odunze is a bad NFL prospect—he was the sixth-ranked player on our final 2024 big board—but because of the stylistic fit.
Thomas, who racked up 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, is an explosive deep threat who could fill the Jameson Williams role in Ben Johnson's offense. As the Bears now know, they'll land Johnson as their head coach in 2025.
Plus, pairing Daniels and Thomas together again—a la Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase in Cincinnati—would bring preexisting chemistry to Chicago's offense.
10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
10 of 32
Original Pick: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan (by Vikings)
Last year, the New York Jets traded out of the No. 10 spot so the Minnesota Vikings could trade up for a quarterback. New York then used the 11th pick on Penn State offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu.
Fashanu was mostly fine as a rookie, finishing the year ranked 73rd among offensive tackles by Pro Football Focus. He spent part of the year behind veteran Tyron Smith, though, and he didn't help address Aaron Rodgers' lack of reliable targets behind Garrett Wilson.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers was special from the moment he took an NFL field. Despite getting inconsistent quarterback play, the Georgia product set a rookie receiving record for a tight end with 1,194 yards and five touchdowns on 112 receptions.
With Bowers in the fold, the Jets might not have felt the need to trade for Davante Adams in-season, which cost them a 2025 third-round pick. That trade looks even worse with New York dumping both Rodgers and Adams after the 2024 season.
The Jets pivot here knowing that while Fashanu has tremendous upside, Bowers is already one of the top receiving tight ends in the NFL. He's a difference-maker who can aid whoever is behind center for Gang Green.
11. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
11 of 32
Original Pick: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State (by Jets)
The Vikings traded up to land J.J. McCarthy in 2024. He's still on the board here, so Minnesota goes ahead and takes him again.
An argument could be made for drafting a skill-position player or high-end defender here, especially since McCarthy missed his entire rookie season while Sam Darnold was a Pro Bowler for the Vikings. However, Darnold also fell flat in his final two games of the 2024 campaign and earned more on the open market ($100.5 million for three years) than Minnesota was willing to pay. So, the Vikings have turned the page to the untested Michigan product.
"He understands he is the starting quarterback at this moment," receiver Justin Jefferson said, per Emily Leiker of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. I feel like he kind of brings that with him to practice, knowing that he has to have that leadership. He’s the captain of our team."
The Vikings stick with McCarthy in our re-draft, even though they don't yet know exactly what to expect from him. It's not as if waiting on a 2025 quarterback prospect would bring any more certainty to the position, and there is value in McCarthy spending a year with the organization.
Simply put, Minnesota liked McCarthy enough to trade into the top 10 to secure him. One unfortunate injury shouldn't change the team's outlook.
12. Denver Broncos: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
12 of 32
Original Pick: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
The Broncos originally landed Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th selection, but he's off the board here, along with every other first-round quarterback.
It's impossible for Denver to justify reaching for another quarterback prospect like Spencer Rattler or Joe Milton III, so the Broncos roll the dice with their Jarrett Stidham-Zach Wilson combo and snag Malik Nabers to help elevate the offense.
Nabers, who was originally drafted sixth overall by the Giants, was as advertised as a rookie. Despite having mostly poor QB play in New York, the LSU product caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns.
While drafting Nabers wouldn't address Denver's need for a long-term quarterback, it would help create an impressive receiving corps. Theoretically, the Broncos could be heading into 2025 with Nabers, Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr. and Evan Engram as their top pass-catchers. That would certainly benefit a quarterback like Stidham or a signal-caller drafted later in 2024 or in 2025.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
13 of 32
Original Pick: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Raiders got themselves a bargain when Brock Bowers fell to the 13th pick. They're not as fortunate in our redraft, though they can still add a talented pass-catcher here.
Washington wideout Rome Odunze was far less productive than Bowers as a rookie. However, he was in a fairly unproductive passing attack (31st in net yards per attempt) and had to share targets with D.J. Moore, Cole Kmet and Keenan Allen.
Odunze finished his inaugural NFL campaign with 54 catches for 734 yards and three touchdowns, which isn't indicative of his ceiling.
"Odunze is a quarterback's best friend. He's a reliable route-runner with good size and an accuracy-erasing catch radius," Derrik Klassen wrote for the B/R Scouting Department in 2024.
Knowing that it'll make a play for veteran quarterback Geno Smith in 2025, Las Vegas grabs a promising possession receiver to help its future quarterback and help ease the loss of Bowers in our redraft.
14. New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State
14 of 32
Original Pick: Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State
The New Orleans Saints would love to see one of the top six quarterbacks fall to this spot since they know Derek Carr will retire in the 2025 offseason. That didn't happen, however, so New Orleans will instead look to protect its next signal-caller—presumably, 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough.
The Saints will stick with Oregon State offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga, who brings versatility to the proverbial table and who impressed far more than most rookie tackles in 2024.
While the Saints had a down year, Fuaga carried himself well. He started all 17 games at left tackle, played 98 percent of the offensive snaps, and was ranked 41st among tackles in run blocking by Pro Football Focus.
Is there room for improvement? Sure, Fuaga was responsible for 10 penalties and allowed six sacks, according to PFF. However, he has the tools to play right tackle—which he did in college—or even guard, which gives New Orleans flexibility in building out its line.
For example, the Saints used their 2025 first-round pick on left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., knowing Fuaga can be moved to another spot.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
15 of 32
Original Pick: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
The Indianapolis Colts might consider taking an offensive player who can aid quarterback Anthony Richardson. The Florida product didn't take the second-year jump many expected in 2024 and will enter the 2025 campaign battling with Daniel Jones for the starting job.
However, there's too much defensive talent on the board to ignore, and Indy has a chance to pivot away from its original pick, UCLA edge-rusher Laiatu Latu.
Latu was far from a disaster as a rookie, finishing with four sacks, 23 quarterback pressures and five tackles for loss. However, he wasn't the instant difference-maker that teams want in a mid-first-round pick.
Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, on the other hand, was exactly that. The Toledo product landed with the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 22 and went on to have a terrific season as a 16-game starter. Though he didn't record an interception during the regular season, he had 12 pass breakups and allowed an opposing passer rating of only 87.2 in coverage.
Pro Football Focus ranked Mitchell 33rd overall among all 222 cornerbacks for the 2024 season.
For a team that ranked 26th in passing yards allowed in 2024, Mitchell has too much value to ignore here. The idea of pairing him with 2025 free-agent addition Charvarius Ward is incredibly intriguing.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
16 of 32
Original Pick: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
The Seattle Seahawks put a lot of thought into going with an offensive player here. They know that they'll swap out quarterback Geno Smith for Sam Darnold in 2025 and that they'll part with wide receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.
The idea of bolstering the interior long before adding 2025 first-round pick Grey Zabel is intriguing.
However, Mike Macdonald is a defensive head coach, and Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy II has the potential to be a special defensive player.
Murphy may be a work in progress as a pass-rusher (0.5 sacks in 2024), but the potential is there. Pro Football Focus ranked him 64th among 219 interior defenders in pass-rushing last season. Murphy also logged 36 tackles, 12 solo stops and two tackles for loss.
As the Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator, Macdonald built a disruptive defense on the foundation of a strong front headlined by star defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike. By taking Murphy here and partnering him with Jarran Reed, Leonard Williams and 2025 free-agent addition DeMarcus Lawrence, Macdonald can have himself an elite defensive front in Seattle.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
17 of 32
Original Pick: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama (by Vikings)
The Jacksonville Jaguars originally traded this pick to the Minnesota Vikings before taking LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. six spots later. With Thomas already off the board, Jacksonville decides to grab another receiver to help quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Lawrence, who is now entering his fifth NFL season, hasn't quite played up to his draft status as the top overall pick in 2021. However, he's often been saddled with poor coaching and an underwhelming supporting cast.
The Jags know that they'll make a 2025 coaching change by poaching Liam Coen away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They also know that they'll help bolster their offense by snagging receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter in the 2025 draft following a trade up to No. 2.
However, Hunter and free-agent addition Dyami Brown aren't enough, especially with tight end Evan Engram departing for Denver. So, Jacksonville grabs former Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey, who was originally drafted 34th overall by the Chargers.
McConkey wasn't quite as impressive as Thomas as a rookie, but he managed to catch 82 passes for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns while serving as Justin Herbert's new favorite target.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
18 of 32
Original Pick: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Bengals have struggled to develop a quality offensive line since drafting Joe Burrow first overall in 2020. That's why taking offensive tackle Amarius Mims in 2024 made plenty of sense.
However, Mims battled several minor injuries as a rookie and wasn't particularly impressive on the field. Pro Football Focus ranked him 96th overall among 140 offensive tackles for the season.
While Mims should still have plenty of opportunities to improve, the Bengals have a chance in this redraft to address another glaring need—the 25th-ranked defense that essentially kept Cincinnati out of the postseason in 2024.
Pivoting to Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins would help bolster one of the Bengals' most questionable units (21st in passing yards allowed last season) with a premier prospect. Wiggins appeared in 15 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2024 and allowed an opposing passer rating of just 66.7 in coverage.
Wiggins has the physical and technical potential to be the reliable cover corner that the Bengals currently lack. Keeping him away from a division rival by drafting him here would be a bonus.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Braden Fiske, DE, Florida State
19 of 32
Original Pick: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
The Rams don't need to overthink this selection. They've already lost out on standout pass-rusher Jared Verse. They have an opportunity to avoid losing Braden Fiske as well.
Fiske, who was teammates with Verse at Florida State, was originally drafted 39th overall. The Rams should be perfectly comfortable taking him a round earlier in a redraft. They originally paid a hefty price to get him and got terrific results in return.
Los Angeles surrendered the 52nd overall pick, the 155th overall pick and a 2025 second-rounder to move up and secure Fiske. He rewarded the team by appearing in all 17 games (including eight starts) and amassed 44 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 22 quarterback pressures.
Fiske ended up finishing third behind Verse and Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in the voting for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Missing out on Verse hurts, but missing out on him and Fiske would be a borderline disaster for Los Angeles. It avoids that by scooping up the later here.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
20 of 32
Original Pick: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
The Pittsburgh Steelers originally used this pick on Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu. However, they now know that Fautanu would miss the majority of his rookie season with a knee injury. They also know that former starting left tackle Dan Moore Jr. will depart—and be significantly overpaid—in 2025 free agency.
The Steelers could opt to stay with Fautanu here and continue with their plan to move Brockerick Jones to left tackle with Fautanu on the right side. Given Fautanu's injury, however, they instead pivot to Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu.
While Fashanu wasn't overly impressive as a rookie, he was solid—ranked 73rd among offensive tackles by Pro Football Focus—and, more importantly, was healthy enough to appear in 15 games. Making the switch would give Pittsburgh more time to try different tackle combinations ahead of the 2025 offseason.
Fashanu's upside is also hard to ignore here. While Fautanu was the 16th-ranked prospect on the B/R Scouting Department's final draft board, Fashanu was seventh.
21. Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
21 of 32
Original Pick: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
Had Jared Verse or Braden Fiske fallen to No. 21, the Miami Dolphins might have a difficult choice to make here.
Miami entered the 2024 draft needing pass-rushing help because Bradley Chubb had suffered a torn ACL late in the 2023 season. It also ended up losing Jaelan Phillips to a season-ending knee injury in Week 4, which helped lead to the low sack production (35 as a team).
Verse and Fiske ranked first and second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, respectively, while Fiske led all rookies with 8.5 sacks. Either player could have enticed the Dolphins, who should again make pass-rushing depth a priority.
But with both off the board, the Dolphins stick with their original choice, Chop Robinson.
The Penn State product didn't exactly take the league by storm last season, but he showed enough flashes to feel good about his NFL future. He finished the year with six sacks, eight tackles for loss, 20 quarterback pressures and four passes defended.
Robinson, Phillips and Chubb would form a dangerous pass-rushing trio if the Dolphins could just manage to get all three on the field together.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
22 of 32
Original Pick: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman seems to have a knack for letting the draft come to him. In 2024, he stayed at No. 22 and watched as cornerback Quinyon Mitchell—the 10th-ranked prospect on the final B/R draft board—fell to Philadelphia.
That's not happening in our re-draft, though, so the Eagles need to be more proactive. Here, they'll pounce on Cooper DeJean, whom they originally selected 40th overall.
Like Mitchell, DeJean played a big role in Philly's defensive turnaround. He appeared in 16 games with nine starts and allowed an opposing passer rating of only 80.1 in coverage. He also logged 51 total tackles and 38 solo stops.
The Eagles may lean into DeJean's positional versatility in 2025, and they plan to expand his role beyond nickel packages.
"In our base package, we'll find a spot for him—either at corner or safety," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio told reporters during OTAs.
The chances of the Eagles getting DeJean in Round 2 in a re-draft would be slim, so they call his name here.
23. Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland via Houston): Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
23 of 32
Original Pick: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU (by Jaguars)
This pick once belonged to the Cleveland Browns, who traded it to the Houston Texans in the ill-fated Deshaun Watson deal. The month before the draft, the Texans then flipped that selection to the Vikings. Minnesota then moved up to select Alabama pass-rusher Dallas Turner, which left the Jaguars with the 23rd pick.
That's where Jacksonville snagged LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
In this re-draft, Minnesota manages to stay put and land Turner anyway. While he flashed some promise as a rookie (3 sacks, 3 tackles for loss), Turner wasn't impressive enough to be an early target in this exercise. However, his ceiling is high enough that the Vikings can justify taking him here.
"Turner has plenty of tools to work with to warrant a top-15—and maybe even a top-10—selection in this year's draft class," Matt Holder of the B/R Scouting Department wrote ahead of the 2024 draft.
Pass-rushers are always valuable, and Turner has the potential to be a special one. Minnesota takes him again and hopes he can grow into a more prominent role after playing only 28 percent of the Vikings' defensive snaps as a rookie.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
24 of 32
Original Pick: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama (by Lions)
The Dallas Cowboys originally traded this pick to the Detroit Lions, who selected cornerback Terrion Arnold. This time around, they'll stay put and snag speedy wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
While Worthy didn't statistically measure up with many of his 2024 classmates, he showed that he can be a difference-maker with the Kansas City Chiefs. He finished his rookie campaign with 638 receiving yards, 104 rushing yards and nine combined touchdowns.
Worthy's speed—he ran a record-breaking 4.21-second 40-yard dash at the combine—can change the complexion of any offense.
The Cowboys might consider taking Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton, whom they originally took 29th overall, but he didn't exactly impress as a rookie. Pro Football Focus ranked him 115th out of 140 offensive tackles for the season. Taking Worthy instead would give the Cowboys a dangerous No. 2 receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb.
With Worthy in the lineup, Dallas wouldn't feel the need to trade a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick for the final year of George Pickens' contract in 2025.
25. Green Bay Packers: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
25 of 32
Original Pick: Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona
The Green Bay Packers originally used the 25th pick on Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan. He was expected to compete at left tackle, but he ended up playing only 186 offensive snaps due to a shoulder injury that limited him to six games.
This time around, the Packers take West Virginia center Zach Frazier instead.
Center was a bit of a problem area for Green Bay in 2024. Josh Myers was ranked 46th out of 64 centers by Pro Football Focus. The Packers know that they'll let Myers walk in 2025, acquire guard Aaron Banks and try moving Elgton Jenkins over to center.
Drafting Frazier would make things simpler. The Packers could keep Jenkins at guard, plug the rookie in at center and expect good results. Pro Football Focus ranked Frazier sixth overall among centers for his work with the Steelers in 2024.
Green Bay sticks to addressing its offensive line but pivots to a player who's far more likely to make an early impact.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton, C, Duke
26 of 32
Original Pick: Graham Barton, C, Duke
The 2024 draft saw a serious early run on offensive tackles, with eight prospects drafted to play the position in Round 1. Our re-draft sees less of an emphasis on tackles but a bit of a run on interior linemen.
However, that's not why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are taking Graham Barton here. Tampa originally used this selection on the Duke product and saw nothing during his rookie campaign to suggest a change is in order.
Barton took over the starting job by Week 1 and ended up starting 16 games. He missed one contest with a hamstring injury but played 100 percent of the offensive snaps when healthy. While Barton's play wasn't flawless, he added some much-needed stability to Tampa's interior line.
"I liked the steadiness that Graham Barton showed as a rookie," head coach Todd Bowles said, per Brianna Dix of the team's official website. "... Making blitz adjustments and stunt adjustments aren't easy for a first-year center."
The Bucs know that they'll lose their offensive coordinator for the second straight offseason, so they look to keep as much continuity on that side of the ball as possible. Keeping Barton at center is part of that plan.
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
27 of 32
Original Pick: Darius Robinson, DE, Missouri
The Cardinals got this selection from the Texans in the 2023 draft trade that sent Will Anderson Jr. to Houston. Needing their own pass-rushing help, the Cardinals then used the pick on Missouri's Darius Robinson.
Unfortunately, Robinson missed most of his rookie year with a calf injury. He appeared in only six games and logged just 10 tackles and a sack. The Cardinals could roll the dice on Robinson again, but they'll instead take a pass-rusher who was able to show a bit more as a rookie.
UCLA's Laiatu Latu appeared in all 17 games for the Colts and registered four sacks, five tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hits. While those aren't overly impressive numbers, Latu's higher ceiling gives him an edge over Robinson.
"Overall, the Bruin has few flaws in his game," Matt Holder of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote.
The B/R Scouting Department ranked Latu as its 14th overall prospect on its final big board, while Robinson came in as its 45th-ranked prospect. With Latu available in our re-draft, Arizona makes the switch.
28. Buffalo Bills: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
28 of 32
Original Pick: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas (by Chiefs)
The Buffalo Bills originally traded this selection to the Chiefs, who used it on wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Buffalo then traded down again before taking Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman with the 33rd overall pick.
Coleman went on to have a fairly forgettable rookie campaign with the Bills, finishing with 29 catches for 556 yards and four touchdowns. However, his combination of size (6'4", 215 lbs), play strength and ball skills is hard to ignore.
Buffalo appears confident that Coleman, who appeared to be making progress before a midseason wrist injury, can make a significant Year 2 jump.
"We’re going to continue to work extremely hard to try to get on the same page," quarterback Josh Allen said, per Paul Hamilton of WGR 550. "He’s got so much ability, he’s so athletic, he’s already put on some weight, and he’s gotten a little bit stronger. So I’m excited to see his progression."
Buffalo could consider a pass-rusher or cornerback here, but given the team's need to put talent around Allen, sticking with Coleman makes sense.
29. Detroit Lions: Cooper Beebe, C, Kansas State
29 of 32
Original Pick: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma (by Cowboys)
The Lions originally traded up from this spot to grab Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold. He's still on the board here and earns some serious consideration after a respectable rookie campaign.
Arnold made 15 starts for Detroit in 2024 and logged 10 passes defended while allowing an opposing passer rating of 93.7 in coverage.
While the Lions certainly shouldn't regret selecting Arnold, they go in a different direction in our re-draft. Instead of taking Arnold a second time, they scoop up Kansas State center Cooper Beebe.
Beebe was one of the few bright spots for the Cowboys in 2024. He started 16 games at center and finished the season ranked 20th overall at his position by Pro Football Focus.
The pivot occurs because Detroit knows that it will lose center Frank Ragnow to retirement in 2025. The Lions did use a 2025 second-round pick on Georgia interior lineman Tate Ratledge and put him to work at center early in the offseason. However, Detroit also heads into 2025 needing to replace guard Kevin Zeitler, who signed with the Titans in free agency.
Taking Beebe here allows Detroit to put Ratledge at guard and ideally have a powerful and potent line leading the offense again in 2025.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Mike Sainristill, CB, Michigan
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Original Pick: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Ravens originally used this selection on Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins, but he was poached by the rival Bengals in our re-draft. However, Baltimore can still get a starting-caliber cornerback by taking Michigan's Mike Sainristill with the 30th pick.
Sainristil originally landed with the Commanders as the 50th pick in the draft and went on to appear in all 17 games. He made 16 regular-season starts and finished the year with 14 pass breakups, two interceptions and 93 total tackles. He was a bit of a feast-or-famine player—he also surrendered 740 receiving yards and seven touchdowns—but he did little to suggest that he can't develop into a dependable starter.
Pro Football Focus ranked Sainristil 77th overall among 222 cornerbacks on the season.
Sticking with a cornerback is a logical choice for Baltimore, which saw some early defensive struggles under first-year coordinator Zach Orr. The unit did begin to gel toward the end of the regular season, but it still finished the year ranked 31st in passing yards allowed.
Simply put, the Ravens can't afford to ignore their secondary here, even though they know they'll add safety Malaki Starks in the first round of the 2025 draft.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Dominick Puni, G, Kansas
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Original Pick: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
The San Francisco 49ers have a difficult decision to make here. They can stick with Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, knowing that he'll miss part of his rookie season after being shot during an attempted robbery, or they can pivot to a player who started all 17 games as a rookie and played extremely well.
On one hand, Pearsall did have some bright moments once he got on the field, finishing with 400 receiving yards, 45 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The 49ers also know that they could use receiver help, as Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL in 2024 and Deebo Samuel was traded during the 2025 offseason.
On the other hand, guard Dominick Puni—whom the Niners originally picked in the third round—looks like a future perennial Pro Bowler.
Puni played every single offensive snap for the 49ers in 2024, which was a noteworthy feat given the team's other injury woes. He finished the year ranked 11th overall among 136 guards by Pro Football Focus.
It's a tricky choice because the 49ers also know that they'll hand quarterback Brock Purdy a five-year, $265 million extension in 2025. One way or another, they need to ensure that their franchise signal-caller is surrounded by a strong offense.
Having seen more from Puni than Pearsall through a calendar year, San Francisco opts for the former.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
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Original Pick: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina (by Panthers)
The Bills originally traded down to this spot and then flipped the 32nd overall pick to the Panthers. In our re-draft, however, Buffalo stays put at No. 28, leaving this pick to the Chiefs.
With Legette off the board, Kansas City decides to pivot to its offensive line and take a flier on Washington's Troy Fautanu.
The Chiefs know that poor offensive line play—particularly at left tackle—shattered their hopes of winning Super Bowl LIX and completing the NFL's first-ever three-peat. They'll go on to add Jaylon Moore in free agency and draft Josh Simmons, but taking a chance on Fautanu at this point makes sense.
Picked 20th overall by the Steelers, Fautanu barely saw the field before suffering a season-ending knee injury. However Simmons is also coming off of a season-ending knee injury, and Fautanu was viewed as a high-end prospect who can move inside to guard if needed. He was ranked 16th overall on the B/R Scouting Department's final 2024 draft board.
Taking Fautanu here would give the Chiefs another option at left tackle, increasing their chances of finding a reliable starter in 2025. And should Simmons be ready to start at left tackle, Fautanu could help replace guard Joe Thuney, who was traded to Chicago this offseason.
Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.
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